and the water was not up to
his armpits. He took out the portfolio and thrust it in between his
neck and his collar: it gave him a confined and choky feeling, but it
was well out of water; and his right hand held the revolver well out of
water too. Thus prepared, yet hoping that the worst was over, he took
another forward step. Breaking into a run, the Captain was by the edge
of the stream the next moment, whipped out his revolver, pointed it at
Paul, and cried, "Stop!" For although one does not mean to fire, it is
often useful to create the impression that one does.

The action had its effect now, although not exactly as Dieppe had
anticipated. Flurried by his double difficulty, Paul stopped again and
glanced over his shoulder. He saw the barrel aimed at him; he could
not risk disregarding the command, but he might forestall his pursuer's
apparent intention. He tried to turn round, and effected half the
revolution; thus he faced down-stream, and had his back to the full
force of the current. Although no deeper than he had feared, the river
was stronger; and in this attitude he offered a less firm resistance.
In an instant he was swept off his feet, and carried headlong
down-stream, dropping his revolver and struggling to swim to the
opposite bank.

"I can't afford to have this happen!" cried Dieppe, and, seeing how the
current bore his enemy away, he ran swiftly some fifty yards down the
bank, got ahead of Paul, and plunged in, again with the idea of cutting
him off, but by water this time, since his plan had failed on land.

Here it is likely enough that the two gentlemen's difficulties and
activities alike would have ended. Paul went under and came up again,
a tangled, helpless heap of legs and arms; the Captain kept his head
above water for the time, but could do nothing save follow the current
which carried him straight down-stream. But by good luck the river
took a sharp bend a hundred yards below the ford, and Dieppe perceived
that by drifting he would come very near to the projecting curve of the
bank. Paul was past noticing this chance or trying to avail himself of
it. The Captain was swept down; at the right instant he made the one
effort for which he had husbanded his strength. He gathered his legs
up under him, and he stood. The water was only half-way up his thigh,
and he stood. "Now for you, my friend!" he cried. Paul came by, quite
inanimate now to all appearance, floating broadside to t